Color Blending

Essentially, there are only three colors (the primary colors). All other colors are made by combining colors. Artists can blend colors on the pallete, once the paint is on the canvas, by combining wet paint with wet paint, layering wet paint on top of dry paint.

Let's take a look at watercolors. An artist can apply different colors, "wet on wet" where one would blend the paint colors right on the paper.

Another technique is to wait until each color is try then lightly apply more layers, or veils, of color on top, allowing each layer to dry before apply the next.

Water colors can be abstract, like what is shown above or they can be incredibly life like.

We are going to practice something in between.

Color Blending Activity:

STEP 1: Take a photo of a prominent object in the foreground.

STEP 2: Trace the outline of the object and fill it in with a solid color marker.

STEP 3: Using the wet on wet technique, apply watercolors to create a spectacular "sky" or background.